A pub classed as 'failing' when its owners took it over has won the top award as the cream of Plymouth’s Best Bar None network.

North Hill’s Switch walked away with the Best Late Night Venue title and the overall award for best venue at the BBN Plymouth gala awards night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The club’s bosses were delighted and said the wins were a vindication of three years of hard work needed to turn around the bar and overcome the challenges of generational change and reliance on the student market.

Mr Lewis and his co-director Jason Strickland said they are still facing challenges affecting the entire nighttime economy, but it succeeding by providing high-quality service and satisfying a wider demographic.

“We have students for 33 weeks of the year, they are a reality,” he said. “But locals are just as important. We have to cater for every single market.

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“I had to go out to build relationships,” he said. “Now you can do that on your screen, so we have to work harder and provide the best service.”

BBN exists to uphold the highest standards in the evening-and-nighttime-economy (ENTE), and accredited venues have all proved they are safe and well run.

Thirty five of the 60 BBN-accredited venues submitted themselves for an award in 2018.

They were inspected and “mystery shopped” before the best were chosen for honours.

“The venue that wins the overall award is the one that scored the highest overall in their assessment and mystery shops and has been chosen and decided by the independent panel,” said BBN Plymouth co-ordinator Cat Macdonald.

There were other winners which included:

Best Casual Dining Experience

Presented by Annette Hunt, sales director at Hunts Cider

The Stoke Bar and Grill wins the best casual dining venue award at the BBN awards (Image: James Stoner)

WINNER: Stoke Bar and Grill

Runner-up: The Tamar

Highly commended: Noahs Ark

Best Cocktail/Bar Venue

Presented by Tracey Dillon and George Nightingale from Quick Gin

The team from Las Iguanas wins BBN's best cocktail bar honour (Image: James Stoner)

WINNER: Las Iguanas

Runner-up: The Refectory

Highly commended: Seco Lounge

Best Pub

Presented by Kelly Bullard from South Hams Brewery

The Fortescue wins BBN's best pub award (Image: James Stoner)

WINNER: The Fortescue

Runner-up: The Golden Hind

Highly commended: The Mannamead

Best Student Choice Venue

Voted by the public presented by Vice Chair of the Licensing Committee-Councillor Lorraine Parker Delaz Ajere

UPSU triumphs at the BBN Plymouth awards 2018 as best student choice venue (Image: James Stoner)

WINNER: UPSU

Runner-up: Prysm

Highly commended: Fever and Boutique

Best Community Venue

Sponsored by the Police and Crime Commissioners Office and presented by Phil Baul from Plymouth Street Pastors

The Pavilions was named best community venue at the 2018 BBN awards (Image: James Stoner)

Best Door Person Award

For an individual who has gone above and beyond what is expected in their job role. Nominated by venue managers. The independent pane decided on the winners. Sponsored by Stella Artois and presented by Superintendent Craig Downham.